It’s been a bit of a rough time for Batman fans. While Gotham devotees got their first glimpse of the Caped Crusader during the series finale, it hasn’t been smooth sailing over in the DC Extended Universe. Even though Ben Affleck took up the role of the Dark Knight back in 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, little progress has been made in regards to The Batman, a standalone film which is set to release on June 25th, 2021. After months of speculation, Affleck officially retired from the role earlier this year, admitting that he wasn’t able to get the project to a place he was content with.
Since then, fans have been waiting for Warner Bros. to announce their official replacement, and it looks like they won’t have to wait much longer.
As reported by ComicBook.com, Twitter user Daniel Richtman, who’s well known as a source of insider news, has revealed that official updates regarding Batman’s casting are “upon us,” and that an announcement could be made “even this week.”
Of course, even though there’s been no word regarding who’ll play the hero next just yet, that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from steadily turning over the past few months. After speculation that Call Me By Your Name actor Armie Hammer would be donning the cowl, the star officially went on the record to deny any rumors that he’d be taking on the role. And while some moviegoers might balk at the idea of Twilight veteran Robert Pattinson picking up the mantle of the Caped Crusader, that hasn’t stopped fans from dreaming.
Regardless of who might end up playing the iconic hero, it seems that Warner Bros. isn’t slowing down with the standalone film, as The Batman is expected to enter production by the end of the year, with War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves leading the project. And as soon as we hear who’ll be donning the cape and cowl, we’ll be sure to let you know.